Andy4200
Member
- Messages
- 148
I recently posted on a thread about how I refurbed the sticky buttons on my 4200 by using adhesive labels I designed myself on CAD.
Initially this was done solely for my own purposes to improve the mess my centre console was in, without having to spend hundreds of pounds.
Since then a number of members have asked if they could purchase these stickers for their own cars, so I thought I should start a separate thread, with a view to supplying them to members, if required. (Matt was consulted as is fine with this).
Obviously these are not as good as the professionals can manage with laser etching, but hopefully they are an improvement.
Also note, this can be a fiddly and time consuming process, especially if you want to retain the back lighting.
The time and effort expended reflects the quality of the finished product.
All the buttons including the nav buttons etc, have backlighting which comes on when the sidelights are on, so you can find them in the dark.
I designed the stickers to account for that by following the below, very fiddly process:
1. Strip buttons back to the white coating. (Or like I accidently did, strip the white as well and need to re-paint the white) Various methods can be used and have been discussed.
2. Carefully remove the small round plastic pins that show the green indicator light on the Fog lights, demister, MSP and Sport buttons.
3. Carefully use a scalpel to cut out the required sticker leaving a decent black border around the icon.
4. Peel off the backing of the sticker and attach to the white button using the just visible original marking for lining up.
5. Carefully cut and attach a piece of masking tape that just covers the icon but not the whole sticker.
6. Spray the buttons a few, thin coats of automotive satin black. Not too many otherwise you will have a thick edge of paint build up.
7. Remove the masking carefully, using tweezers advised.
8. Spray as many coats of automotive matt lacquer as you can be bothered to. The more coats, the more the paint and sticker edges blend.
9. Fit all the buttons back in place, once dry.
Photos of the finished product below. The last photo shows the complete sticker sheet.
A complete set of stickers, including postage (UK), is £20. (I can supply just the lower stickers, or just the nav stickers for less)
Hopefully this will prove useful.
Initially this was done solely for my own purposes to improve the mess my centre console was in, without having to spend hundreds of pounds.
Since then a number of members have asked if they could purchase these stickers for their own cars, so I thought I should start a separate thread, with a view to supplying them to members, if required. (Matt was consulted as is fine with this).
Obviously these are not as good as the professionals can manage with laser etching, but hopefully they are an improvement.
Also note, this can be a fiddly and time consuming process, especially if you want to retain the back lighting.
The time and effort expended reflects the quality of the finished product.
All the buttons including the nav buttons etc, have backlighting which comes on when the sidelights are on, so you can find them in the dark.
I designed the stickers to account for that by following the below, very fiddly process:
1. Strip buttons back to the white coating. (Or like I accidently did, strip the white as well and need to re-paint the white) Various methods can be used and have been discussed.
2. Carefully remove the small round plastic pins that show the green indicator light on the Fog lights, demister, MSP and Sport buttons.
3. Carefully use a scalpel to cut out the required sticker leaving a decent black border around the icon.
4. Peel off the backing of the sticker and attach to the white button using the just visible original marking for lining up.
5. Carefully cut and attach a piece of masking tape that just covers the icon but not the whole sticker.
6. Spray the buttons a few, thin coats of automotive satin black. Not too many otherwise you will have a thick edge of paint build up.
7. Remove the masking carefully, using tweezers advised.
8. Spray as many coats of automotive matt lacquer as you can be bothered to. The more coats, the more the paint and sticker edges blend.
9. Fit all the buttons back in place, once dry.
Photos of the finished product below. The last photo shows the complete sticker sheet.
A complete set of stickers, including postage (UK), is £20. (I can supply just the lower stickers, or just the nav stickers for less)
Hopefully this will prove useful.
![20230120_111944[3358].jpg](/data/attachments/108/108450-bd813cbff1fcbecb682d3abc67ecd0d2.jpg)
